Jet Fuel Crisis Threatens Global Air Travel
A top official from easyJet has issued a warning regarding the uncertainty surrounding jet fuel supply in the next three to four weeks, as the ongoing conflict in Iran continues to disrupt holiday plans. The rising prices of oil and its derivatives, including jet fuel, have created concerns for travelers worldwide, with thousands of flights potentially being canceled in the coming weeks.
Javier Gándara, the country director for easyJet’s southern Europe, told the Majorca Daily Bulletin that it is difficult to predict the exact impact of the situation after “three or four weeks.” He emphasized that the global market would be affected, stating, “No one will be immune to potential supply problems.”
Gándara also highlighted the broader implications of the war on fuel prices, noting that consumers would experience a significant impact on their income due to increased costs in areas such as mortgages, rentals, food, and gasoline. However, he acknowledged that the net effect of these factors is hard to predict.
Last month, easyJet’s CEO Kenton Jarvis urged travelers to book flights as early as possible to avoid price increases if oil prices remain high.
Industry Experts Share Concerns
Travel experts have echoed Jarvis’ warnings, expressing fears that short-haul flights to destinations like the Mediterranean could see price hikes within weeks, even if the conflict were to end immediately.
Dustin Benton, managing director of Forefront Advisers, pointed out that several factors would continue to affect the global supply chain of jet fuel. He stated, “You can’t just snap your fingers and switch everything back on.”
Sally Gethin, an aviation specialist, explained that the scale of the impact on air passengers would depend on how long the Strait remains closed. She told the Daily Mail, “Even if it opens, you’d still need time for the jet fuel supplies to start up again.” According to her, the best-case scenario would involve higher fares and some route cancellations, while the worst-case scenario could lead to tens of thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands, of flights being canceled globally.
Gethin predicted that smaller airports with limited jet fuel storage would be hit hardest, as well as flights on recently launched routes by airlines. She suggested that the current crisis could lead to a situation similar to the 1990s, when air travel was more expensive and there were fewer low-fare airlines, although she stressed that the situation is rapidly evolving and hard to predict.
Airlines Take Action Amid Rising Costs
Over the weekend, Irish carrier Aer Lingus announced it would cut over 500 flights from its schedule in the coming weeks for “mandatory maintenance” on aircraft. The airline is set to cancel several scheduled transatlantic flights, including services to and from Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St Paul, and Toronto, according to internal documents seen by the Irish Independent.
Flights to London Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, and Edinburgh will also be canceled, with passengers rebooked onto alternative services. In continental Europe, German carrier Lufthansa said last week that a regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, will suspend operations from Saturday due to high kerosene prices and labor disputes.
Dutch airline KLM has canceled 160 flights across the next month as a result of rising fuel costs. Seven other airlines have announced flight cuts so far: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Norse Atlantic Airways.
An easyJet spokesperson told the Mail, “We continue to engage with fuel suppliers, airports, and governments to monitor the situation.”
